LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1047, 9 February 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

. ■»-■■ : ..' • A Gazetto. extraordinary issued yesterday prorogues Parliament until March IS next. ' . An accident happened yesterday morning while shunting operations were being carried out at the Gear Company's siding, Petone, a large truck containing sheep becoming derailed. Forty of the sheep were killed. By a typographical error it was stated in our issue of yesterday that the work of draining south Kilbirnie would be completed in about 24 months. The period stated should .havo. been six months. The domestic servant problem is apparently' becoming acute in somo parts of the.Manawatu district.'' An advertisement is appearing in a Pnlmefston paper asking for tho services of "a good general or a boy-for housework." Excellent progress is being made by the contractor iu the work' of' erecting the new for'rtW'oncToto bridge over the I'itamahnngn, between Fcnthcrston and Martin-, borough,'and already over one liuudred piles have been cast. Yesterday afternoon, about half-past four, the grey bulk of tho frigate Kersciint slid round behind Point Halswell, southward bound. Messieurs of the -white tam-o'-shanters; with tho red pompoms had departed, .'not without' regrets. Ono gathered, during a brief visit to the frigate yesterday niorhing, that all concerned had had a very cnjoynblo timo in Wellington. They liked -Wcllinjton vciv much hotter than Auckland. Why? Well, Wellington' peoplo woro more like tho English.' Moro' so than tho pcoplo of Auckland or of Australia; The frigate goes south to Akaroa, Lyttelton, and lluuedin. The visit to Aknroa is being looked forward to with considerable interest, for, being originally a ■ French eettlement, its associations and traditions will hare a- homely flavour to messieurs of .the Kcrsaint,

The first section of the Karori tramway extension, from the present terminus to the liorough Council Chambers, will bo ready for traffic in about a fortnight. Unless any delay occurs in connection with the passing of tho lino by the Public Works Department, it will shortly bo opencd. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Championship meeting, which was to havo been held at Christcliureh on March 4, has been postponed by the Canterbury Centre to March 18. Tho former date clashed with that of a trotting meeting. "I had been told," said his Excellency Lord Islington at the iT.W.C.A. gathering last evening, "'that because this was a young country and peoplo were so busy in their daily avocation, they had no time to give to this sort of thing (philanthropic work). But one has only to look round and see the valuable work on social lines that is being done here, and in other centres to realise that there are largo groupe of Indies and gentlemen who do find time in their busy lives to give to the service of their fellow creatures." In,conscquenco of-the prevalence of typhoid throughout the Poverty Bay district, especially in several of the Native settlements, the Hon. Jas. Carroll has communicated .with the Under-Secretary, Mr. Fisher, at Wellington, suggesting that ho should endeavour to arrange for the appointment of the Cook County Sanitary .Inspector, to act in terms of tho Native Councils Act in connection with the inspection and supervision of such matters, upon terms to be arranged. The Native Minister also suggests that a medical officer of the Department should be sent there to investigate the cause of the outbreak. .The "Otago Daily' Times" reports that harvesting has commenced in Tapanui district, and tho frequent .showers during the past few months have grealy increased the prospects of fair yields. Within the next' fortnight cutting: will be general, and vrith fine weather tho harvest should not be of long duration, as the crops are coming rapidly. The rainy season has also benefited grass and turnips, and feed should bo plentiful for the fall. Grass-seed threshing is now being attended to, and this crop has been harvested in good condition this year. Landowners in the district have no roon. for complaint in the present season, and prospects cro hopeful for tho future. There is a general impression that land deals will be numerous this year, as northern buyers are being attracted by tho cheaper land in tho south and the more regular climate. • There will, no doubt; bo a consequent rise in land values n recent sales are to be taken as a criterion. The Duncdin "Star" reports that a whalo was stranded the other day on Stewart Island. It was first observed by a mill-hand named Lee on tho beach near the sawmill at North Arm in Patersou s Inlet at half-tide, and it was left high and dry nt low water. Its length was 63ft., but the species is still in doubt, opinions differing as to whether it is "fin back" or "right" whale. Tho owners (Messrs. Lee, Greenwood and Sharp) vere offered' .£IOO for' the carcass, but would not accept, as if it proves to be a "right whale the value should be in the neighbourhood of £300. ■

A number of nfivelty events enlivened the proceedings at the New Zealand Swimming Championships' yesterday, but none of them aroused as much hearty laughter as did an unrehearsed "turn in which the nrincipals were Mr. K. Bassett, of ChristcUurch, one of the standard timekeepers, and Mr. A. W. Smith, 'Wellington, one of the regular time-keepers. These two officials, fully dressed, were about to leave the starting-board m a dinghy, in order to bo on the twenty yards' mark at the finish of.the 220 yds. Brcast-Stroke Championship. The frail craft was no respecter of time and its keepers, and it promptly emptied its two occupants into the bath, to the hugodelight of the spectators.